The Washington critic., 1887-11-11

hills. The building is In the italian Ronals-
snnoo. It is hGT feet long and $40 foct wide.
Its greatest height Is i28 feet. and the nag,
floating over the central portion, launts IN
the breeze higher up than any othor nag IN
the city, not excepting those above tho
Senate and House Of Representatives. The
cost of the building was i've millions OF dol
ars. about three times as much as tho
White House, and, we think, as much as
the Capitol.
Department OF Justice.
Immediately north Of tho Treasury Building
and Just across the street IL the Depart
mnent OF Justice, This building was origin
ally erected as the Freodman's Bank. The
square in which 1t is erected Is historic
one. On the same street, at the east corner,
stands Riggs Bank, which was built for tho
accommodation of the Washington brauch
Of the old United States Bank. The greater
part OF 1t Is now occupied by the clerks of
tho surgeon.G Generals Office. Around the
corner 10 the west L. the Commissary-Gon
Club House, in front OF which Philip Barton
Key was shot by Sickles. Tho tree, under
which the dead mans body lay, Is still
pletely removed by. relic hunters. Al tho
northwest corner OF the square, above the
Commlssary. Generals Office, Is the house
% made famous by the owncrShipo n 81 I,Inr Tommo,
lived and reigncd so long a social Queen
after her husbands term as President OK
pired.
The Washington Monument.
Immediately south of the white House stands
the Washington Monument, tho lOftlcst
structure erected by man, and the most i'm
posing, obellsk ever constructed, II Is BIS
feet above It's base, which is ~ feet above
tide-water. Its cornerstone was laid July
., 1873, and the cap.stonc, forming the apex,
was placed IN position December o, 1881. In
II arc lsl blocks OF Inserted stones or cop
per-. gifts from various countries and so.
Nigtipg. The total Tpgt will hp 81 nrI-
600. IL Is situated In what will ultimately
be beautiful bark.
The Naval observatory.
To the West of the Washington Monument,
on the highest elevation that borders tho
north bank Of the river, between st: Elza
both's Heights and Georgetown College,
stands the Naval Observatory. The hill on
which II stands Is famous for having been
the camping, ground of Washington, Brad
dock, and the latLer's army, when on their
march 10 the fatal field, where tho English
General fell q victim to his sef.conceit and
vanity. Tradition also points out this hill
District Indians and the mysterious Susquc
hannas. This observatory contains the
largest refracting telescope In the world,
next to the new equatorial lust built for the
Lick Observatory. by It's aid that most in
teresting, II not greatest, astronomical dis
covery of the country was made, the moons
Is at i and twenty third streets northwest.
The Herdic cabs so to Twcnty.second and
G streets.
The Agricultural Department..
This building is situated east of the Monu-
ment; 1t Is enclosed by the most beautiful
and glowing flower gardon In the country
ana the grounds contain the most complete
AIboretum probably In the United States.
Attached TO this Department are tho Ex.
perimcntal Gardens. whose Offices arc i'm.
mcdiately west of the main building. The
Belt Line cars go right past the grounds.
The Smithsopian,
Across Twelfth street, Immediately east from
the. Agricultural Department, are the
Smithsonian Institution and the smthso.
nian Grounds. The former Is q specimen of
the most graceful architecture In the city,
and the latter form the most beautiful
landscape garden In the country. These
ol Srounds Of themselves are re worth visit to
memorial urn to the artist who designed
the park, Andrew J. Downing, and the
bronze statue of Professor Henry. the first
secretary OF the institution. The latter is
at the northwest corner of the building; the
Downing Urn is in the centre Of the grounds,
two hundred yards north of the east wing.
The Smithsonian IL filed with tho most
varied and interesting objects connected
with science, II Is reached by the Seventh
Street, the Ninth Street and the Belt Line
OF street cars.
The National Museum.
The National Museum IS in the Smithsonian
grounds, q few yards east Of the smithso-
IL vi tuc
most interesting eurlosites, samples OF the
life, customs and history of all nations. II,
as well as tho Smithsonian, Is open daily to
the public from a. m. to 4 p. IN.
The Botanical Gardens.
Passing eastward from the Museum over
the. railroad bridge that spans Sixth street,
and through the pretty park lying between
Maine and Missouri avenues the visitor
comes to the entrance on Third street, Just
south of Pennsylvania avenue, of the Bo.
tanical Gardens. These interesting grounds
are open daily from 0 in the morning to
In the evening. They were established
30 years ago.. The conservatories are filed
with the choicest and rarcst foreign plants.
Around the gardens are extensive collec.
tions of trees. and shrubs. In the centre Of
the lawn facing the centro conservatory is
the famous Bartholdl Fountain that at
tracted so much attention at the Philadel-
phia Centennial
The Peace Monument.
Just half way across the Avenue from the
northeast angle Of the Botanical Garden
And at the west foot of the Capitol Grounds
Is the Peace Monument. This was de-
signed by Admiral Porter in honor of the
dead soldiers and sailors of the late war.
II IL of marble and cost, with PEDESTAL and
platform $4,000. II Is proposed to remove
this monument to one OF the squares Oh the
northwest section.
The Garfield statue.
The Garfield Statue, which was unveiled May
IL, 1887, is situated at the intersection of
Maryland avenue and First street, and is
regarded by Its famous sculptor, Mr.. j. q.
A. Ward, as one OF his most successful
achievements.
Retracing our steps we find
The Printing and Engraving Bureau
The great money mill OF the Government Is
located at the corner of Fourteenth and u
street southwest, southeast from the Monu-
mcnt and southwest from the Agriculture
Bureau, II Is reached by the Belt Line
Cars, and is opened to visitors every day.
Dnvy Burns' Cottage.
One Of the curiosities OF Washington Is old
Davy Burns Cottage, on Seventeenth street,
near the river. 1t may be reached by the
the Metropolitan or Avenue line of cars.
Next door to 1t is General Van Ness once
stately mansion, where he brought his
BRIDE Marcia Burns, one of the original
heiresses Of Washington.
COrcOran Art Gallery.
The Corcoran Art Gallery Is az the corner of
Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth
street, opposite the War, Navy and state
Department. II Is open Tuesdays, Thurs
days and Saturdays free; on other days lex
cept sundays n small admission fec is
charged. This gallery, although not to be
compared with the great Old World gal
leries, Is nevertheless very creditable in
stitution for SO new Il country as the United
States. II contains among other original
objects Powers great statue OF the Greek
The Louise Home,
The Louise Home is n beautiful building at
the corner of Massachusetts, avenue and
Fifteenth street, near Scott Circle. II has
extensive grounds, beautifully ombellished,
and is. unique establishment, 1t is
memorial TO the wife and daughter of Mr..
W. W. Corcoran. and Is intended as home
for ladies of education, birth and refine
ment, who have been reduced to poverty
from aflluence.
The Columbian University
Coming down Fifteenth street from the Louise
Home, at the corner of Fifteenth and II
streets, the visitor sees the Columbian Uni.
yersity, which occupies the site OF the old
Griswald mansion. This university was In
corporated as Columbian College in ls9l,
and Is under the special supervision of the
Baptist Church. IL Il an Institution famous
for the llanlnllnn mud flnlnnnhnnaa of It's